Reviews

Where worlds collide

By Nevil Gibson | March 1, 2023 | 0 Comments

Authoritarian states have historically put a lot of effort into using movies for propaganda, sometimes with spectacular results. While the Nazis forced much of Germany’s top talent to Hollywood, much to the latter’s benefit, its studios continued to operate throughout the war. One epic about the Titanic proved to be … Read More about Where worlds collide

Looking back at the best of 2022

By Nevil Gibson | December 20, 2022 | 0 Comments

Movie attendances bounced back in 2022 as quantity far exceeded quality. Only 20 exceeded the $1 million mark at the box office, with reboots dominating the most popular offerings.   Top Gun: Maverick was well out in front, followed by Thor: Love and Thunder, with the latest in the Dr … Read More about Looking back at the best of 2022

Sherlock’s detective sister

By Nevil Gibson | December 1, 2022 | 0 Comments

The superiority of what streaming services provide for home entertainment is more obvious when cinemas can only rustle up second-class fare.  This has been the case for several months, thanks to Hollywood studios falling behind on their usual blockbuster attractions, known as tentpoles, and other factors that may not all … Read More about Sherlock’s detective sister

Legend survives fictional life

By Nevil Gibson | November 18, 2022 | 0 Comments

The decline of Netflix is an example of Mark Twain’s saying that rumours of his death are greatly exaggerated. A drop in global subscriptions, due to a more competitive environment, was reversed in the company’s latest report.  A more interesting aspect of Netflix’s future is whether it will embrace theatrical … Read More about Legend survives fictional life

War poet’s survival guilt

By Nevil Gibson | November 4, 2022 | 0 Comments

It is a conventional view of history that World War I could have been prevented and its tragic legacy avoided. Apart from history-telling, it left a large trove of literature, notably Britain’s war poets.  Few parents of baby boomers would have left New Zealand high schools without being able to … Read More about War poet’s survival guilt

Dame Whina’s long march

By Nevil Gibson | June 25, 2022 | 0 Comments

Between March 12 and April 6, 1930, the world’s media contained daily reports of an Indian protest march from the Sabarmati ashram to Dandi on Gujarat’s western coast. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, it became the symbolic start of anti-colonial resistance using non-violent methods. The “salt march” was one of the … Read More about Dame Whina’s long march