Author Archives: Sam S-P
40 Years On: Jaws (1975)
On 20 June 1975, something came from the water to change the landscape of summer movie releases forever. 40 years on, and, rubber shark aside, JAWS is still an astounding piece of filmmaking, a masterpiece that bridges classic Hollywood and … Continue reading
Review: Pride (2014)
PRIDE is good-ish. They’re going for feelgood, and they certainly succeed in delivering that, but if you’re looking for much more then you might leave a little disappointed. Following a chance encounter between student Joe (George MacKay) and a passionate … Continue reading
Review: Jurassic World (2015)
I love JURASSIC PARK. It will always hold a very special place in my heart. It was the first film I saw on the big screen, and I saw it at the age that I, like so many other children, was … Continue reading
Review: Ex Machina (2015)
It’s about time a movie delivered on the promise of an AI thriller, particularly in 2015, a year with such disappointing offerings so far. CHAPPIE was underdeveloped to the point of stupidity, and AGE OF ULTRON was muddled and overstuffed. … Continue reading
Review: Tomorrowland (2015)
Thank goodness the concept of hope has returned to the summer blockbuster landscape. With TOMORROWLAND, Brad Bird may not quite have hit the dizzying heights of his previous movies, but he clearly relishes bringing back retro designs, fun action, endearing … Continue reading
10 Years, 10 Spectacular Sci-fi Films (2005-2014)
Science fiction has become a film genre increasingly derivative and dispiritingly inconsistent in quality in recent years. 2012’s TOTAL RECALL was a terrible remake and PROMETHEUS was arguably guilty of cheapening its own source material, the ALIEN series, by existing … Continue reading
Review: Autómata (2014)
AUTÓMATA is interesting, but could have been more so. It’s competently directed, with a good eye for detail, but you find yourself craving more originality and tighter plotting overall. In the face of disaster caused by environmental decay and warfare, … Continue reading
Review: Before I Go To Sleep (2014)
I’m not the biggest fan of Christopher Nolan’s mind-boggler MEMENTO, but at least it was packed full of interesting ideas. The opening of BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is smothered by watery visuals and sound effects, then we hear a … Continue reading
Review: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Here’s an unpopular opinion: I don’t think any of the MAD MAX films are outright classics. They’re influential, yes, and iconic, but not great films. They’re fun distractions. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD comes the closest of the series to top-tier … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 
“The hour grows late…” (RIP Sir Christopher Lee)
Well today has been a sad one for film fans. Mere hours after news broke that the portrayer of Fagin Ron Moody had died at the age of 91, it was announced that Christopher Lee had also passed away at … Continue reading →