Review

The VQ Laura Ashley 4 Slice Toaster is the high quality and affordable option for all your breakfast needs

As a person who has owned a two-slice toaster for the majority of their life, the VQ Laura Ashley 4-Slice Toaster is a game changer, especially in a household of 5 people who are constantly on the go. Enter the VQ Laura Ashley 4-Slice Toaster, a stylish new option that’s as affordable as it is…

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Film Review: Death of a Unicorn is a blackly comic creature feature that eats the rich and delights in mythological madness

Movies about unicorns have a certain fantastical nature to them, so it makes sense that Death of a Unicorn adopts such a mentality – albeit with a serious case of nastiness and surprising class commentary. A blackly comic creature feature with an evident love for the back catalogue of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron –…

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Series Review: Mid-Century Modern; Hilarious, nostalgic sitcom breaks down queer stereotypes as much as it embraces them

Watching something like Mid-Century Modern you’re reminded of both the golden age of the multi-cam, live audience classicality of a sitcom, as well as the shift in televisual consumption, with this nostalgic itch-scratching firecracker of a show taking advantage of its streaming setting with boundary-pushing humour and considerable profanity; once you hear the stupendous Linda…

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Film Review: Holland; Nicole Kidman anchors ambitious, twisted mystery thriller

If there’s one thing about our Nicole Kidman, it’s that she’s going to work! Fresh off three of last year’s buzziest shows (Expats, Lioness and The Perfect Couple) and a criminally Oscar-oversighted performance in the erotic drama Babygirl, the perennially busy actress/producer is at the centre of another twisted thriller of sorts in Prime Video’s…

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Film Review: A Working Man; Jason Statham’s latest vehicle is a serviceable slice of action

At this point you know what you’re going to get with a Jason Statham vehicle, and when it’s one penned by Sylvester Stallone and directed by David Ayer (who, in addition to such actioners as Suicide Squad and End of Watch, was behind last year’s Statham surprise The Beekeeper), you shouldn’t be remotely taken aback…

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Film Review: Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up is a stupendously joyous family event

As someone who grew up with the Looney Tunes, there’s certainly a sense of nostalgic warmth when watching something as unapologetically wacky (and 2D) as Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up. Nostalgia only takes you so far though, and as much as The Day the Earth Blew Up is a bombastically entertaining cartoon…

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Film Review: Oh, Canada; Self-reflective drama is muddled, but unquestionably fascinating

Given that he’s experienced his own health problems over the last few years, it would seem Paul Schrader is a man reflecting on his own mortality if Oh, Canada is anything to go by, the filmmaker’s fourth effort in almost as many years. Reuniting with his own American Gigolo, Richard Gere, Oh, Canada centres around…

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Series Review: The Studio; Seth Rogen’s “inside baseball” series about the film studio scene is perfectly constructed comedy

Whilst there is a certain “inside baseball”-like mentality to The Studio – the Seth Rogen–Evan Goldberg-created comedy series about the moving and shaking of a new film studio head and his attempt to salvage the newly acquired company’s evidently floundering reputation – such is the genius of Rogen and Goldberg’s handling (the duo co-directing each…

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fantastic action adventure, even if it plays things a little safe

After its initial November 12, 2024 release date was pushed back to February and then again to March 2025, it stands to reason that Assassin’s Creed Shadows might have gained a little heat as far as expectations were concerned. After all, it’s a wonder it even took this long for the series to reach feudal…

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The Enabot ROLA PetPal Robot Pet Companion is a step in the right direction for all in one pet products

Pet devices are only getting smarter and smarter, and there’s no doubt that the Enabot brand of pet products is about to be pioneers in this market. While there are so many great products that can keep an eye out on your pet, feed your pets, and even play with your pets, The Enabot ROLA…

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The Enabot ROLA Mini is the perfect remote controlled pet sitter

Pet cameras are a great addition to the household to make sure your pets are exactly where they need to be if you need to duck out of the house for a few hours or go for a quick run to the shops. But there are always blind spots that these cameras can’t always catch….

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Here’s why you should be making plans to stay at Netflix’s The Residence

A queer President. An occasionally profane Kylie Minogue. An unseen Hugh Jackman. A birder-obsessed detective.  And a murder most foul. An Agatha Christie-meets-Clue-like mystery series from the Shondaland factory (i.e. Shonda Rhimes, the figurehead behind such TV successes as Grey’s Anatomy, How To Get Away With Murder, and Bridgerton), The Residence is an intelligent, witty…

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The Enabot ROLA Smart Pet Water Fountain is a decent replacement for regular water dispensers

If you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably had your fair share of trial and error when trying to find the right product for your pet to drink water from. While plastic water dispensers are great, they can get dirty quite quickly, and the actual bottle itself can be difficult to clean because of how small…

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Film Review: O’Dessa; Post-apocalyptic rock opera delights in its audacious maximalism

Whilst his previous film – 2017’s crowd-pleasing Patti Cake$ – had a scrappiness to it, it beamed with a personality larger than its budget.  For O’Dessa, director Geremy Jasper delights in supreme maximalism, as his post-apocalyptic musical-romance hybrid projects its bigness through both its visuals and its central thematic of how love can transform one’s…

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Film Review: The Alto Knights; Robert De Niro pulls double duty in talky mobster drama

Robert De Niro and the role of a gangster have so often gone hand-in-hand that there’s an immediate sense of ease in entering The Alto Knights, with the feeling that, if nothing else, audiences can rest assured that the legendary actor will deliver a worthy performance. De Niro is ultimately the main reason to see…

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The Twelve South PlugBug Travel 120 wall charger is an on-the-go essential

If you’ve ever been into a tech store to look for a charger for your devices, be it phones, tablets or laptops, I don’t blame you for being lost in the sheer amount of options. Different brands, ports, wattages and overall compatibility always make things a little tricky. Even if you know what you’re after,…

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Monster Hunter Wilds stacks up as one of the better titles in this long-running franchise

As a newcomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, I approached Monster Hunter Wilds with fresh eyes and an eagerness to understand the phenomenon that has captivated players for two decades. While the game didn’t disappoint in delivering epic battles and immersive lore, some aspects kept it from achieving true perfection. I couldn’t help but feel…

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Sweetness blends teen angst and obsessive horror: SXSW Film & TV Festival Review

That feeling of being a teenage music fan taps into an obsession that is both incredibly singular, yet universally known.  Specific music and, in many cases, the artist behind such can imprint so intimately on one’s psyche, and it’s that worship that forms the core of Emma Higgins‘ debut feature, Sweetness. Granted, Higgins laces this…

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Film Review: Black Bag; Steven Soderbergh’s witty espionage thriller delights in its narrative twists

Whilst Black Bag sets itself up as a spy thriller in slightly the same vein as the (former) Brangelina vehicle Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with the two supremely charming (and, let’s face it, beautiful) leads dancing around the question of whether or not two spies in a marriage can stay truthful to one another, director…

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Film Review: Hard Truths; Mike Leigh’s tragicomedy earns our compassion in spite of its cantankerous protagonist

At the centre of Hard Truths, the latest tragicomedy from writer/director Mike Leigh, is a woman who seemingly seeks conflict in each of her interactions, making her personal relationships challenging in the process. The woman – the embodiment of someone who tests patience and will, but still earns enough love from those that she hasn’t…

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Interview: Sally Aitken on her documentary Every Little Thing, the interconnectedness of nature, and its importance in the wake of the Los Angeles fires

Every Little Thing follows retired writer and teacher Terry Masear over a summer as she takes in and rehabilitates injured hummingbirds. Shot with stunning close-ups of the birds against the backdrop of Masear’s storied life, this film is a mediation on human-animal relationships and our capacity for care. Bringing this stunning story to the screen…

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Split Fiction is an incredible cooperative adventure that should not be missed

I do have a soft spot for developer Hazelight Studios. While I enjoyed A Way Out, I simply adored It Takes Two. Having played through it with my wife, who I must state does not play games of any sort, and for her to love it as much as she did is a true testament…

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Film Review: Spit; David Wenham provides a masterclass in comedy in amusing, poignant Gettin’ Square sequel

Whilst the 2003 Australian crime comedy Gettin’ Square has its loyal fans and critical acclaim to its name, it severely underwhelmed at the Australian box office upon its release, leading the very existence of Spit to be quite an anomaly in itself.  A two decades-on sequel to a flop genre flick is not the usual…

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Film Review: Mickey 17; Expect the unexpected from Bong Joon Ho, with Parasite follow-up anything but safe cinema

In some ways it’s unfair for Mickey 17 to use director Bong Joon Ho‘s Oscar-winning Parasite in its marketing, as this bonkers sci-fi effort is quite far removed from that aforementioned satirical thriller, and may lure audiences into a false sense of security. Of course, being a Bong picture, satire is still utilised, but waiting…

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Film Review: One of Them Days is a spirited genre vehicle elevated by the charming duo of Keke Palmer and SZA

When it comes to the tried and tested buddy comedy, chemistry is key.  Keke Palmer, arguably one of the most mega-wattage charm possessors currently working, and R&B music starlet SZA prove quite the dynamic duo in One of Them Days, an extremely spirited genre vehicle that they continually elevate when it occasionally gives in to…

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Elyas injects a sense of heart into its multiple bouts of choreographed brutality: Alliance Française French Film Festival Review

Whilst it’s been two decades since French director Florent-Emilio Siri dipped his toe in the action genre with the 2005 Bruce Willis vehicle Hostage, it’s evident he hasn’t lost any flair for such, with his relentless Elyas touching on topical themes whilst proving rousing as an exaggerated vehicle in the same vein of a Liam Neeson…

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Turbo Overkill brings that old-school heat to new-gen consoles

It’s so obvious to mention the original Doom at the slightest mention of boomer shooters. It wasn’t the first first-person shooter (FPS), but it still feels like the most important in terms of popularity and influence. Not only was the 2016 reboot a hit, but to this day, programmers and enthusiasts continue finding more and…

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Run, don’t dribble, to binge Kate Hudson’s Netflix comedy series, Running Point

A starring role with her talents front and centre always suited Kate Hudson, so, immediately, Running Point lands its lay-up, with the Netflix comedy series giving the actress the material needed to flourish. Inspired by Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss, the Mindy Kaling-produced series subs in the Los Angeles Waves and Hudson’s Isla Gordon,…

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Film Review: I’m Still Here is an engaging drama carried by the proud performance of Fernanda Torres

Whilst there were many movie-goers that may have been surprised at hearing Fernanda Torres‘s name being called at this year’s Golden Globes as the recipient of the Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) over the likes of Nicole Kidman’s acclaimed turn in Babygirl and Angelina Jolie’s seeming front-runner presence in Maria, once I’m Still…

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Racewalkers celebrates both its titular sport and the power of male friendship with organic comedy: Slamdance Film Festival Review

As ridiculous a sport racewalking may seem – Aussies are sure to have images of Jane Turner and Glenn Robbins powerwalking with all their might come to mind – writing/directing duo Phil Moniz and Kevin Claydon lace such with a tenderness and respect that allows audiences to laugh with the sport’s quirk rather than at…

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