Die Hard a Christmas movie? Maybe, but no one in a vest that grubby would be allowed into my sparkly, well-dressed festive celebrations. Even an A-lister needs to make an effort if they want to get anywhere near my Christmas stockings. But the only real alternative Christmas film that matters is John Wick. It’s a… 10 Reasons Why…The Ultimate Alt-Xmas Movie Is John Wick Read More
The Knight Before Christmas 3 stars
14th century English knight Sir Cole Lyons can chop a Christmas tree down in one axe stroke, which rather concerned me when I started considering what his job might be back in snowy medieval Norwich – especially when he later captures a purse thief and wastes no time telling the pickpocket exactly what his punishment… The Knight Before Christmas Read More
Klaus 4 stars
Director Sergio Pablos’s yuletide fable is surprisingly unsentimental, considering this time of year tends to brings out as much treacle in movies as in the traditional festive gingerbread. A Santa Claus origins story, it’s surely destined to become a Christmas classic – as lonely woodsman Klaus’s unshakeable belief that “a true selfless act always sparks… Klaus Read More
Last Christmas 2.5 stars
Twenty-something me had quite a lot in common with Kate, the twenty-something heroine of Last Christmas: blonde bobs, a love of fake leopard print, and a job in a Christmas shop. As I’m now an ancient 48, you could say I’m her Ghost Of Christmas Future, and if that’s not a warning to her to… Last Christmas Read More
A Reindeer’s Journey 3.5 stars
Part informative documentary, part anthropomorphic family film, this story about the first year in a reindeer calf’s life is a captivating and stunningly beautiful journey, as reindeer calf Aïlo grows up in the ancient forests and valleys of arctic Lapland – its remoteness no protection from the realities of climate change. That anthropomorphism sometimes grates,… A Reindeer’s Journey Read More
The Christmas Chronicles 3 stars
*** My review of The Christmas Chronicles: Part 2 is here *** Both a Christmas cracker and Christmas crackers, The Christmas Chronicles is a festive must-watch, even if some of it will be through your fingers. But if you’re a True Believer, you’ll already know all that. This Santa is old yet modern, and, dare… The Christmas Chronicles Read More
Pop Up Screens Are Back for 2018 With Christmas Movies & SNOW!
Pop up cinema experts Pop Up Screens are back this winter with Cinema In The Snow – a terrific selection of Christmas and wintry-themed movies running from 13-23 December 2018 at East London’s Hackney Showroom. As with last year, they’re turning the location into a Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe winter wonderland, complete with… Pop Up Screens Are Back for 2018 With Christmas Movies & SNOW! Read More
2017 Round-Up: Cinema & The C-Word
Movieland 2017 has given us some terrific performances, amazing stories, breathtaking cinematography and moving scores. You can read about that shit anywhere though. So instead let’s concentrate our cinematic analysis of 2017 on things beginning with the letter C. C Is For Christopher (Plummer) After months of allegations about sexual abuse and harassment carried out… 2017 Round-Up: Cinema & The C-Word Read More
Bad Santa 2 1.5 stars
It’s probably not a great idea to include the line “welcome to the shitstorm” in your sequel as the temptation for disgruntled movie reviewers to start their review with it is just so strong. Luckily I am more creative than that. But unfortunately Bad Santa 2 is really not a great movie. Where the first… Bad Santa 2 Read More
Christmas Classics with London’s Pop Up Screens
*** The article below is about 2017’s line up – check out my piece on Pop Up Screen’s Christmas 2018 schedule *** If you’re in London, between Friday 7 December and Christmas Eve, Pop Up Screens is transforming East London’s Hackney Showroom into a Christmas wonderland. (Luckily they keep the heating on as most cinemas are… Christmas Classics with London’s Pop Up Screens Read More
The Muppet Christmas Carol 4 stars
This Victorian London is delightful, as we really want it to have been – with snowy cobbled streets and a population of muppets, by which I mean funny American muppets not the thousands of muppets I usually find when I visit our capital city in a hurry. The opening credits include From the novel by… The Muppet Christmas Carol Read More
Bad Santa 4 stars
Bad Santa may have come out in 2003, but it has held up remarkably well. In fact the only thing that gives its age away is – like Alien – that Willie Soke can smoke pretty much anywhere. I guess that the traditions of Christmas – the unflattering red and white suit, the annoying children,… Bad Santa Read More