Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review: Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)
Is DETECTIVE PIKACHU the best video game movie ever made? Probably. Does it stand up as a film in its own right? Mostly. Sorry if it seems like I’m sitting on the fence with this one but I’m genuinely struggling … Continue reading
Review: Amazing Grace (2018/19)
This might be stating the obvious but Aretha Franklin had a voice that made you sit up and take notice. I don’t think I’d ever watched extended footage of her singing live. AMAZING GRACE, the salvaged footage of an abandoned … Continue reading
Laika Animated Movies Ranked
A Few Thoughts More: Endgame
The following piece contains major spoilers for AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Alright, are we all caught up? OK then. Endgame is one of those particularly difficult movies to wax lyrical about (and I intend to) without talking about the specific things you … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Soni (2018/19)
The best thing about Netflix as a service is how it encourages the democratisation of cinema. So many promising new, diverse voices would not have an outlet without the streaming giant. SONI is a hidden gem, and you should all … Continue reading
Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Oddly enough, despite its 1970s setting, cold grey rooms and tweed, Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of John Le Carré’s TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY feels more relevant and connective than ever. Maybe it’s because the modern world we live in is becoming … Continue reading
Review in Brief: The Wandering Earth (2019)
THE WANDERING EARTH either needed to be a lot smarter or a little bit dumber to really land. It’s fascinating to see China enter the international blockbuster arena in earnest with the killer premise of building monolithic engines on the … Continue reading
May the Fourth Review: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Yeah, that’s right, for Star Wars Day 2019 I’m reviewing this one. It’s not that bad. Alright it’s bad, but it’s not that bad. George Lucas knew what he wanted to achieve with THE PHANTOM MENACE, his vision remains clear … Continue reading
Review: Missing Link (2019)
By Laika’s incredibly high standards, MISSING LINK isn’t quite up there. Saying that, even bottom-drawer Laika is still top-drawer animation, so there’s still plenty to recommend here. In an effort to prove himself to a stuck-up explorers’ society, noted man … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Unicorn Store (2017/19)
I don’t really care what more cynical viewers and critics think; I found Brie Larson’s directorial debut UNICORN STORE absolutely charming. Maybe it’s because it’s a story about a woman-child, and I relate to stories like that. Kit (Larson) is … Continue reading
