Reviews

A pseudo-historical story which I have heard countless times before, retold with an all-star cast and with the help of Christopher Doyle’s cinematography, Hero is a treat of a film. Shown recently at the Melbourne International Film Festival, its single screening sold out quite quickly. In fact, a group of five friends of mine...
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In 1982, when The Dark Crystal was released, it set a new benchmark for special effects, in particular its use of models and puppets. While today, in a world of million-dollar computer graphic budgets, the impact of its special effects is more difficult to appreciate, it is still a remarkable piece of work, and...
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“For countless generations, the Kaffir tribesmen of South Africa used a ceremonial drink called ‘dop’ when engaged in war or athletic contests. Brewed from alcohol and cola, the drink improved energy and stamina. When the Boers settled in South Africa , they made the term part of their language; they added ‘e’ to it,...
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I like my food. For about as long as I can remember, I have had somewhat expensive tastes. For a long time I was very picky about my food, then I was sent to boarding school. Now, I am somewhat less picky about my food, but I still retain an appreciation for fine dining....
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“All these men were honoured in their generation and were a glory in their day” In 1924 the Olympics were a very different kettle of fish compared to what they are today. Before big-time corporate sponsorship, before one could make a career out of sport, before widespread doping had even been conceived of, the...
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When one sits down to watch an animated feature film, one comes with certain expectations, certain assumptions and, inevitably, certain misconceptions about the genre. If ever there was a film which would challenge my conceptions about animated features, this masterpiece from Hayao Miyazaki would be the one. Before Titanic, Princess Mononoke held the record...
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