Author Archives: Sam S-P

About Sam S-P

Writer and film fanatic fond of black comedies, sci-fi, animation and films about dysfunctional families.

Review: Nina Forever (2015/16)

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Sam S-P

Raise your hand if you remember how rubbish LIFE AFTER BETH was? NINA FOREVER excels in pretty much every way its totally wonky American cousin fails – it’s sincere, soulful and has something important to say about losing a loved … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Abigail Hardingham, Ben Blaine, Black Comedy, Chris Blaine, Cian Barry, David Troughton, Elizabeth Elvin, Film, Fiona O'Shaughnessy, Horror, J-Horror, Life After Beth, Movies, Nina Forever | 4 Comments

Review: Steve Jobs (2015)

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Sam S-P

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Steve Jobs was an awful human being. A great marketer, a technology rock star, a man with a vision, but as a person he is rightly reviled. Danny Boyle’s Aaron Sorkin-scripted character study does not shy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Aaron Sorkin, Apple, Danny Boyle, Drama, Film, Kate Winslet, Michael Fassbender, Michael Stuhlbarg, Movies, Seth Rogan, Steve Jobs | Leave a comment

Review: High-Rise (2015/16)

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Sam S-P

Like all of Brit Wunderkind Ben Wheatley’s films, HIGH RISE is a fascinating concoction. Bold in tone and extremely stylish, it also ends up being his most inconsistent work to date. In a dystopian 1975, Dr Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Amy Jump, BBC, Ben Wheatley, Clint Mansell, David Cameron, Film, High-Rise, Jeremy Irons, JG Ballard, Louis Suc, Luke Evans, Margaret Thatcher, Movies, Reece Shearsmith, Sci-fi, Space Station 76, The Frost Report, The Raid, Tom Hiddleston | 1 Comment

Review: Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Sam S-P

More-or-less following on from the iffy SON OF BATMAN, BAD BLOOD is straight in with a well-staged brawl between Batman, Batwoman, and multiple C-Grade villains from the Dark Knight’s rogues gallery. In less sure hands, this would be a messy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Animation, Batman, Batman: Bad Blood, Batman: The Animated Series, Damian Wayne, DC, Film, Frank Miller, Jason O'Mara, Marvel, Movies, Mystery of the Batwoman, Sean Maher, Son of Batman, Superhero Movie, The Avengers, Tim Burton, Warner Brothers, Yvonne Strahovski, Zack Snyder | 3 Comments

Review: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Sam S-P

It’s been quite a journey to this one. I’m not just talking about the long wait, delays and steady build of hype throughout the production of BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, which have all been considerable, but also note … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged 300, Amy Adams, Batman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck, Blockbuster, Chris Terrio, Christian Bale, Film, Frank Miller, Gal Gadot, Hans Zimmer, Henry Cavill, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Junkie XL, Justice League, Man of Steel, Movies, Oscar, Roger Ebert, Sucker Punch, Superhero Movie, Superman, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Watchmen, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder | 20 Comments

Sons, Knights, Tights and Bat-nipples: The Best and Worst of Batman and Superman

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Sam S-P

With BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE finally hitting theatres, I thought I’d take a look at some of DC’s two most iconic heroes’ cinematic outings of the past – the good, the bad, and the mishandled. Best Batman: BATMAN: … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Feature | Tagged Alicia Silverstone, Annette O'Toole, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Batman, Batman & Robin, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman: Under the Red Hood, Bruce Greenwood, Chris O'Donnell, Christopher Nolan, Christopher Reeve, DC, Gene Hackman, Kevin Conroy, Margot Kidder, Michael Keaton, Richard Donner, Richard Lester, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughan, Superhero Movie, Superman, Superman II, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, The Dark Knight, Tim Burton, Uma Thurman, Zack Snyder | 1 Comment

Review: The Survivalist (2015/16)

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Sam S-P

Who needs an expository text dump to establish your film’s world? The state of the future in THE SURVIVALIST is illustrated as simply as it could possibly be with two coloured lines representing oil production and the human population steadily … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Damien Elliott, Film, Martin McCann, Mia Goth, Movies, Olwen Fouere, Sci-fi, Stephen Fingleton, The Survivalist | 2 Comments

Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Sam S-P

In 2000 audiences and critics across the world were blown away by CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. The product of international co-operation between studios and directed by Ang Lee, an auteur celebrated both in his native Taiwan and China and in … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Ang Lee, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bioware, China Film Group, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Donnie Yen, Dragon Age, Film, Jackie Chan, Jason Scott Lee, Jet Li, Martial Arts, Mass Effect, Michelle Yeoh, Movies, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Netflix, Oscars, Quentin Tarantino, Seven Samurai, Sylvester Stallone, Yuen Woo-Ping | Leave a comment

Review: Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Sam S-P

The problem when you have a really good run is that even the slightest stumble becomes very noticeable. Over the last decade NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, A SERIOUS MAN and especially INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS made you forget that these … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged A Serious Man, Alden Ehrenreich, Bob Hoskins, Channing Tatum, Charlton Heston, Comedy, Eddie Mannix, Film, Film noir, Gene Kelly, George Clooney, Hail Caesar!, Hollywoodland, Inside Llewyn Davis, Josh Brolin, Movies, No Country for Old Men, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Burton, Roger Deakins, Singin' in the Rain, The Coen Brothers, The Ladykillers, The Majestic, Trumbo | Leave a comment

If Batman v Superman somehow bombs, what then?

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Sam S-P

It’s almost unthinkable, I know, but what would it mean if BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE bombs critically and/or commercially when it is finally released later this month? At the very least it might sound the death knell for … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Comment | Tagged Avengers: Infinity War, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck, Blockbuster, Christopher Nolan, Deadpool, Film, Gal Gadot, Jason Mamoa, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Justice League, Man of Steel, Movies, Peter Jackson, Suicide Squad, Superhero Movie, The Dark Knight, Warner Brothers, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder | Leave a comment

Author Archives: Sam S-P

About Sam S-P

Review: Nina Forever (2015/16)

Review: Steve Jobs (2015)

Review: High-Rise (2015/16)

Review: Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

Review: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Sons, Knights, Tights and Bat-nipples: The Best and Worst of Batman and Superman

Review: The Survivalist (2015/16)

Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

Review: Hail, Caesar! (2016)

If Batman v Superman somehow bombs, what then?

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